Lesson 1 of 20

Lesson 00: Quick Start

Goal: Get your first meaningful result with Claude Code in 5 minutes.

This is your "hello world" for Claude Code. You'll create a simple CLAUDE.md file and see immediate improvement in how Claude works with you.

Step 1: Create Your First CLAUDE.md (2 minutes)

In any project directory, create a file called CLAUDE.md:

cd your-project
touch CLAUDE.md

Add this minimal configuration:

# My Project

[One sentence about what this project does]

## Tech Stack
- Language: [e.g., Python, TypeScript, etc.]
- Framework: [e.g., React, Django, etc.]

## Code Style
- Use [your preferred style guide]
- Never use [something you hate, e.g., `var` in JavaScript]

## Development Commands
- Run tests: `[your test command]`
- Start dev server: `[your dev command]`

That's it. Save the file.

Step 2: Test It (1 minute)

Start a new Claude Code session in that directory and ask:

"What do you know about this project?"

Claude will read your CLAUDE.md and tell you what it learned. You've just taught Claude your project's basics.

Step 3: See the Difference (2 minutes)

Now ask Claude to do something simple:

"Add a comment to the main function explaining what it does."

Notice how Claude:

  • Knows where to look based on your tech stack
  • Follows your code style automatically
  • Doesn't ask obvious questions

Before CLAUDE.md: Claude would ask "What's your tech stack?" and "Where's the main function?"

After CLAUDE.md: Claude just does it.

Your First Win 🎉

You just experienced the core concept of Claude Code mastery: invest once in context, benefit forever.

Every rule you add to CLAUDE.md saves you from explaining it in every future session.

What's Next?

Option 1: Keep building your CLAUDE.md (recommended)

Spend 10 more minutes adding:

  • 3 more code style rules
  • Your project structure
  • 3 "never do this" rules

See how Claude's behavior improves with each addition.

Option 2: Start the full curriculum

Jump to Lesson 01 for the complete guide to CLAUDE.md.

Option 3: Solve a real problem

Pick a simple task in your project and ask Claude to do it. Pay attention to:

  • What questions does Claude ask?
  • What did it misunderstand?
  • What did it do wrong?

Then add rules to CLAUDE.md to prevent those issues next time.

The Pattern You Just Learned

Notice a problem → Add a rule to CLAUDE.md → Problem never happens again

This is the core workflow that makes expert Claude Code users 10x more productive than beginners.

Now go to Lesson 01 to learn CLAUDE.md in depth.